Faucet construction



1951 E. J. HOUSEKEEPER ET AL 2,536,636

FAUCET CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1947 Earl J. Housekeeper 0 Uarl Jfirazzn G3 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,536,686 FAUCET CONSTRUCTION Earl J. Housekeeper and Carl J. Braun, Wooster, Ohio, assignors to The Wooster Brass Company, Wooster, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,096

The invention relates generally to faucets for dispensing carbonated beverages, and more particularly to novel means for dispensing a carbonated beverage with a high carbon dioxide content.

It is desirable to dispense carbonated beverages in such manner as to retain a high percentage of carbon dioxide in the beverage as it passes through and is discharged from the faucet into the glass, in order to improve the taste of the carbonated beverage.

\ Certain prior faucets have been designed to dispense carbonated water and syrup separately and simultaneously from the same spout to be mixed in the glass, and a faucet of this type is shown in U. S. Patent No. 240L914, issued June 11, 1946, to Carmelo V. DiPietro. In the copending application Serial No. 752,391, filed June 4, 1947, and entitled Dispenser Faucet Construction, we disclose a faucet for selectively dispensing carbonated water or syrup alone, or both simultaneously and separately.

. In these faucets, and in certain other types, it has been attempted to provide some means for reducing the velocity and pressure ofthe carbonated water as it passes through the faucet; and for discharging it in a smoothly flowing condition with a relatively high carbon dioxide content, but such means have heretofor been only partially satisfactory for several reasons. For example, where the carbonated water is led through a plurality of very fine ports for diffusing the liquid to aid in reducing its velocity and pressure, after a period of use the fine ports become clog ed with foreign particles inevitably existing in the carbonated liouid supply. Furthermore, such prior velocity reducing or diffusing means have had the further disadvanage of causing dripping of the carbonat d liquid afterthe faucet is shut off, and this condition is undes rable.

' The present invention has the general ob ect of providing novel and improved means for dispensing carbonated liquids.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel faucet having d ffusing means for reducing the velocity and pressure ofthe carbonated liquid so as .to discharge it in a smoothly flowing condition.

novel means for discharging carbonated liuuid in such manner that it retains a high content of carbon dioxide during the discharge of the liquid from the faucet and while it is filling a glass.

,These and other objects are accomplished bythe-parts, elements, constructions and arrange-- merits comprising the present invention, the nae,

.; {Another object is to provide a faucetwhich has 4 Claims. (01. 299-84) a 2 ture of which is set forth in the following generar statement, preferred embodiments of which are set forth in the following description and shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention being particularly and distinctly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In general terms, th present invention comprises a faucet body including a discharge nozzle having downwardly converging walls merging with a cylindrical discharge outlet, the body having a carbonated liquid discharge outlet com-- municating with the upper end of the nozzle, and an annular diffusing tub 'horizontally disposed in the nozzle closely adjacent to its interior wall and connected to the discharge outlet, there being"- a plurality of radially directed ports in the outer upper wall of the annular tube and having a relatively large total area for discharging the liquid at greatly reduced velocity onto the nozzle walls Referring to the drawing forming part hereof in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by Way of example;

Figure 1 i a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the improved faucet con-f struction having one embodiment of novel diffus-' ing means therein;

' Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation, as on line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detached side elevational view of said one embodiment of novel diffusin means; Fig. 4. is a transverse sectional view thereof as on line 4-4, Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view thereof, partly in elevation; Fig. 6 is a detached side elevational view, similar to Fig. 3, of another embodiment of the novel diffusing means; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectionalview thereof as on line 1--'|, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view thereof, partly in elevation. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

- The improved dispenser faucet preferably hasa hollow body or housing ill in which a valve seat member I is secured, and the member H is pref erably of corrosion-resistant metal such as stainless steel. The supply tubes carrying the liquids to be dispensed from storage reservoirs to the" faucet are preferably bendable tubes or corrosionresistant metal, and may include a carbonated water supply tube I2 and a syrup tube I3. These tubes have their inner ends seated in th member tl, and preferably the inner ends of the tubes are outwardlyv flared as indicated at I4 and tightly 3 fitted in the sockets in the body member H by means of sleeve nuts engirdling the tubes and screwed into the sockets.

The tubes l2 and I3 communicate with angular ports I! and I 8 respectively, located in seat member II and terminating at the seating face IQ of the member II, and a rotary valve member slidably abuts the seating face I 9. A gasket may be interposed between the abutting faces of the seating member I I and the valve member 20, but in the embodiment shown, the abutting surfaces are accurately ground to give a very tight sliding fit which eliminates the necessity of using a gasket.

The rotary valve member '20 is provided in "a suitable manner with passageways for selectively connecting the ports I1 and I8 witha'carbonated water discharge outlet 2| and a syrup discharge outlet 22, whereby syrup and carbonated water may be discharged through the nozzle 23, either one, alone or both at the same time. The port arrangement within the valve member 20 may be the same as or similar to the port arrangement described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 752,391.

The means for rotating the valve member 23 preferably includes a handle 24 screwed into a boss 25 on an arcuate guide portion 26 which fits movably around the valve housing It. The guide portion 26 has an-arm 2'! connected to a socket member 28., and the valve member 2% is nonrotatably held in the socket'member by means of a pin 29, so -that rotary movement of the handle 24 will rotate the valve member 20. Rotary movement of the valve is limited by stop shoulders 30 and 3! on the housing H1, and the various positionsof the valvefor selective fioware located between the limits of movement defined by these shoulders. The intermediate position, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be the shut-off position of the faucet, and the several selective fiow positions may be determined by a spring pressed ball 32 mounted in boss 25 for frictionallyenga'ging anyone of several indentations 33 in the housing 10.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a syrup discharge tube 34 is preferably screwed into the faucet body for communication at its upper end with the syrup outlet port. 2-2, and the syrup tube extends downward axially of the nozzle 23 and terminates at or just below the discharge end of the nozzle, for carrying the syrup through the nozzle without contacting the carbonated water until it enters the glass. The carbonated water outlet :21 is laterally or radially spaced from the syrup outlet 22 and enters the upper end of the nozzle at one side of the syrup tube.

The parts thus far described are substantially the same as corresponding parts in my copending applicatiomserial No. 752,391, and per se form no part of the present invention.

The nozzle 23 includes a spout 35 having its upper end 36 screwed into the depending annular portion 31 of the faucet body, and the inner surface 38 of the spout is preferably downwardly converging and terminates in a substantially straight cylindrical portion .39 of relatively small crosssecti'onal area. Preferably, the bottom end of the spout has an outer lip 44 formed thereon for retaining a rubber bumper ring 4| thereon.

The novel means for reducing the velocity and pressure of the carbonated liquid, and discharge ing it onto the inner surface of the spout in a smoothly flowing condition, preferably comprises the tubular diffuser ring indicated at 42. The

ring has a substantially vertical or upright tube 43 which fits tightly into the outlet sleeve 43' in the faucet body, and may be secured therein as by brazing if desired. The bottom end of the upright tube 43 communicates with the interior of the horizontally disposed tubular ring 42, and may be secured thereto as by soldering or brazing. Preferably, the ring is formed from corrosionresistant metal tubing and the cross sectional area of the tubular ring 42 is somewhat larger than that of the upright tube 43 so that as the carbonated liquid passes from the tube 43 into the larger tube 42, its velocity and pressure will be somewhat reduced.

Means for further reducing the velocity and pressure of the carbonated liquid, and for conducting it onto the internal surface 38 of the nozzle in a smoothly flowing condition, preferably includes a circumferential series of radially oute wardly directed ports 44 in the outer wall of the tubular ring 42. The combined area of these ports is several times that of the cross sectional area of the ring, so that as the carbonated liquid discharges laterally through all of the ports 44-, a substantial reducti'oniin velocity and pressure of the liquid is effected. The area of each individual port 44 is 'sufl'icient to prevent clogging therein of foreign particle's ordinarily existing in the carbonated liquid.

As indicated, the ports 44 are located in the upper portion of the exterior of the tubular ring 42, so as to form a reservoir of substantial size in the bottom of the ring. The purpose of this reservoir is to catch and retain any excess liquid in the outlet tube 2| and upright tube 43 when the carbonated liquid is shut off by the valve '20, so that no dripping of the liquid from the ring -42 will occur.

In the embodiment of Figs. 6, 7 and 8,'the tubular ring 42a is constructed of two similar halves of non-corrosive metal 42b and 420, which are brazed or otherwise secured together in opposing relation 'at the joint 46, and which have registering axial openings 41b and 410 for fitting around thesyrup tube 34. The -upper half 4211 of the ring has an upright tube 43a for fitting in the outlet tube 44 in the fauwt body, and the upper half 4212 of the ring also has a circumferential series of radially directed ports 44a in its outer wall, similar to the ports 44 in the tubular ring 42.

As shown in Fig. '2, the rotatable valve '20 is adjustably held against the ground seating sur: face l9 byan adjusting screw 49 threaded through socket member 28, and preferably having a lock nut 58 thereon. The screw 49 and nut 50 are accessible through a hole 5'! in the cap 52 screwed onone side of the-housing II]. A similar cap 53 is preferably screwed on the opposite side of the housing, and covers a regulating valve for the syrup passageway 22, said valve including a stud 54 movable across said passageway and threaded through a bushing 55 screwed into the seating member H.

In the operation of the improved faucet, when the rotary valve member 20 is operated to com nect the carbonated water supply l2 with the carbonated water outlet 2! to dispense carbon ated water, either alone or in combination with the syrup from the syrup supply tube l3, the carbonated liquid will flow into the outlet sleeve 43" at high velocity and pressure. In flowing from the upright tube '43 into the diffuser ring 42, a. substantial reduction'in velocity and pressure of the liquid accomplished because of the greater cross sectional area of the tubular ring 42, so that the ring becomes a velocity-reducing chamber. As the carbonated liquid discharges laterally from the ring out through the ports 44, the velocity is further reduced because of the relatively large total area of the ports as compared with the cross sectional area of the ring, and the carbonated liquid is d ffused or broken up into a plura'ity of outwardly directed streams.

Due to the close proximity of the outer surface of the tubular ring 42 to the upper part of the converging internal wall 38 of the nozzle, the streams are conducted onto the surface 38 in a smoothly flowing condition without appreciable loss of carbon dioxide. As these streams fiow downwardly over the inwardly converging wall merging into the cylindrical surface 39, the liquid streams are directed vertically downward without causing any impingement of the stream particles, which would result in agitation and a release of carbon dioxide.

Accordingly, the carbonated liquid is dispensed or discharged into a glass held under the nozzle in a smoothly flowing condition with a relatively high carbon dioxide content, whether the carbonated liquid is being discharged alone, or whether syrup is simultaneously being discharged into the glass from the syrup tube 34. Furthermore, when the carbonated liquid is shut off at the valve 20, the flow into the nozzle is immediately stopped, so that no dripping of the carbonated liquid from the tubular ring 42 occurs.

Accordingly, the novel velocity-reducing, diffusing ring 42 or 420. provides a simple and inexpensive means of discharging the carbonated liquid in a smoothly flowing condition with a high carbon dioxide content; provides for eliminat ng substantially all dripping of the carbonated liquld when the supply of the same is shut off; and the cross sectional area of each of the ports 44 is sufiiciently large to eliminate substantially all clogging thereof by foreign particles ordinarily existing in the carbonated water supply.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use, and preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a faucet having a discharge nozzle and a carbonated water outlet communicating with the upper end of said nozzle, a horizontally disposed annular diffusing tube located in the nozzle with its outer surface closely adjacent the interior surface of the nozzle, an upright tube of smaller cross sectional area than said annular tube and connecting said annular tube to said outlet, and the outer wall of said annular tube having a series of radially directed ports therein, the combined areas of said ports being substantially greater than that of the cross sectional area of said annular tube, and said ports being spaced above the bottom wall of said annular tube to form a reservoir therein.

2. In a faucet having a discharge nozzle and a carbonated water outlet communicating with the upper end of said nozzle, a horizontally disposed annular diffusing tube located in the nozzle with its outer surface closely adjacent the interior surface of the nozzle, the interior surface of said nozzle converging downwardly below said diffusing tube and merging with a cylindrical discharge portion, means connecting said diffusing tube to said outlet, and the outer wall of said tube having a series of radially directed ports therein, the combined areas of said ports being several times that of the cross sectional area of said annular tube, said ports being spaced above the bottom wall of said annular tube to form a reservoir therein.

3. In a faucet having a discharge nozzle and a carbonated water outlet communicating with the upper end of said nozzle, a horizontally disposed annular diffusing tube located in the nozzle with its outer surface closely adjacent the interior surface of the nozzle, the interior surface of said nozzle converging downwardly below said diffusing tube and merging with a cylindrical discharge portion, an upright tube of smaller cross sectional area than said annular tube and connecting said annular tube to said outlet, and the outer wall of said annular tube having a series of radially directed ports therein, the combined areas of said ports being substantially greater than that of the cross sectional area of said annular tube, and said ports being spaced above the bottom wall of said annular tube to form a reservoir therein.

4. In a faucet having a discharge nozzle and. a carbonated water outlet communicating with the upper end of said nozzle, a horizontally disposed annular element forming a diffusing tube located in the nozzle with its outer surface closely adjacent to the interior surface of the nozzle, a duct of smaller cross sectional area than said tubular element and connecting said tubular ele-- ment to said outlet,a'nd the outer wall of said tubular element having a series of radially directed ports therein, the combined areas of said ports being substantially greater than the cross sectional area of said tubular element.

EARL J. HOUSEKEEPER. CARL J. BRAUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,563,372 Kantor Dec. 1, 1925 2,213,955 De Freitas Sept. 10, 1940 

